Heat-exchanging apparatus.



UNITED STATES TATENT OFFICE.

mus zmunnminn. or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR r scnu'r'rn 'o xonn'rmo COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A .conromrzon .or

PENNSYLVANIA.

HEAT-EXCHANGIN G APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1918.

Application filed November 12, 1914;. Serial No. 871,868.

- certain new and useful improvements in remain filled, due to capillary act-ion, when lleat-Exchanging Apparatus, of which the following is a true and exact diiscription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The present invention consists of improvements in the structure and mode of construction of tubular heat exchanging apparatus of what may he called the surface condenser type.

The primary object of my invention is to make it possible to effectively unite the ends of a group of tubes employed in a tubular apparatus unit so as to n'ieehanically' secure the tubes to ether and to close the ends of the intertube space without the use of the usual apertured tube sheet, by the simple expedient of dipping the ends of the assembled tubes into a molten bath of a suitable soldering or brazing metal, and without requiring any enlargement or other change in the form 'of the tube ends or any particular cross section or spacing of the tubes.

In carrying out my invention, 1 provide end pieces which unite with one another and with the tube ends to form a wall closing the end of the inter-tube spaceexeept for film like joints extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tubes between the different end pieces and between the end pieces and tubes, which, when the assembled tubes and end pieces are dipped in the molten solder metal, are filled by thelatter and the assembled tubes and end pieces are lifted out of the molten material and the latter flows freely out of. the open ends of the tubes and out of the larger cavities or spaces in'the end pieces when the latter are tubular as is'usually desirable.

In a preferred mode of carrying out my I invention I employ open ended tubular end pieces each formed at one end to contorm in shape to one of the tubes which is insorted therein, and expanded at the other end into a polygonal cross section of such shape and dimensions that it vill be separated from the sides of the similar expanded, portions of adjacent end pieces only by film like solder receiving joint 5 aces v when the tubes and end pieces are assem led;

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to a nd forming a part of this specification, f 1* or a better understanding of the inven tion,however, and the adv-ant: cS possessed by it, reference should be ma c to the accompanyni drawings and descriptive matter in \\'l1i('l ,I have illustrated difl'erent embo'diments of my invention.

()t the rhnwings:

Figure 1 is an edge elevation, and

Fig. 2, a side elevation of a ortion oia tube and end piece therefor, em odying one form of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of tube and end piece shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. i M

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional the line 55 of Fig. 6.

I ig .;6 is a partial sectional elevation of heat, interchanging apparatus in which my invent on is utilized.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of one of the spacers employed in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view taken generally similarly to Fig. 5 illustrating a. modified form of end piece. P

Fig. 9 is a. view similar to Fig. 5 showing another form of end piece. i

Fig. 10 is a view taken similarly to Fig. 5 sl'iowing still another modification.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of one. of

the end pieces shown in Fig. 10. 1

In thedrnwings and referring first to the constructioli shown in Figs. 1 to 7, A represents the ovaltubes of a tubular heat interchanging apparatus suitable for use; as a water cooler or radiator for automobile and.

airship engines. On the ends of the tubes are slipped sleeve like end pieces B. The

mid pieces B are each shaped throughout a extend into the end piece,

plan taken on tent to which the-corresponding gube A may i enlarged expanded at their onal shaped portions B of the end pieces B.

portions B of the end pieces B fit snugly.

to other when the tubes are assembled.

he only joints in the end wall closing the inter-tube space, when the tubes and end. ieces are bundled together, are film like oints between the tube ends and the. surrounding portions of the end pieces telescoping therewith, and film like joints between the expanded polygonal portions B" ofthe end pieces. To seal these film like joints and rigidly connect the tubes and end pieces, the assembled tubes and end pieces are dipped in amolten bath of a suitable solder metal or alloy and are held in the bath for a short period of time until these joints fill with molten solder material. When thereafter the tubes and end pieces are lifted out of the bath, the solder material runs freely out of the open ends of the tubes and end pieces but is retained in the film like joints by capillary attraction during the period required for the solder material to cool and solidify.

Advantageously, the reduced or smaller ends of the sleeve n'iembcrs B are sli htly o posite flattened SlKfZS as indicated at B he enlarged joint end thus provided insures a substantial solder seam between the.- inner end of each end piece and the tube entering it, and also facilitates the rapid assemblage of the tubes and end pieces.

In assembling the tubes and end pieces pre aratory to dipping them in the solder bat they must be bundled or held together snugly enough so that the end pieces and tubes will be frictionally held against relative displacement. Ordinarily the tubes and end pieces are assembled in and secured by the solder metal to a hollow frame member such as is formed by the flanged rim C shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, spacers D which are preferably tubular with integrally closed inner ends, that is, cup shaped, are employed to fill the spaces left between the rim Cand the polyg' As shown in Figs. 1 to 6 the enlarged ends of the sleeves B are regular hexagons in 'cross section, but other polygonal forms may-be used, as required to secure the detions of the end pieces BB are sired spacin of the tubes. for instance, as shown in Fig. 8, the enlarged portions of the end pieces BA are in the form of flattened hexagons. IrrFig. 9 the enlarged secquadrilateral in cross sectional outline. Instead of forming the end pieces' as open ended tubular parts telescopin 'with the :tubes spaced apart and united t. ereby, the

end piecesinay be imthe form of tubular parts integrally closed at their inner endsand inserted between? e ends of the tubes.-

. The end pieces E sho .n in Figs. 10 and 11,

end pieces E, as well as the spacers D, may be readily and inexpensively stamped out of sheet metal. I prefer, ordinarily, however, to em )loy the open ended tubular end pieces as shown in Figs. 1 to (i, 8 and 9, rather than end pieces of the character shown in Figs. 10 and 11. because of the ease and accuracy with which the end pieces and tubes may be assembled-and frictionally held ])1(]')t\l:ll()l' to and during the soldering operation when the open ended tubular. end pieces are employed.

\Vith either type of end piece it will be obvious however, that the cost of material required to form the end wall closing the inter-tube space of a group of tubes and uniting these tubes, and the cost of assembling and uniting these members is rela tively small and wastage is reduced to a minimum. The construction described permits of a great flexibility in assemblage, especially desirable when manufactured on a. large scale, for the tubes themselves may' be formed by the simple expedient of cutting stock tubes up into the desired lengths, while the same end pieces may be used to form ieces of apparatus in which the tubes are'o different lengths and vary in numbers. With my improved construction it is obviously possible to have the tubes spaced as closely together or as far apart as may be desired, and 'the tubes may be oval or round or of an other desired cross section. The invention is especially useful in 'appa ratus where light weight, small bulk and In such case the liquid to be cooled have illustrated and described the best form of my invention now known to me, those skilled in the art will understand that the invention claimed herein-is not limited in its broader aspects to the particular features, A

construction illustrated. and desert detail herein.

Having now: described my lave what I claim as new and desire-to secure {1. Letters Patent, is;

1. Tubular apparatus comprising 1120 bination a group of tubes curvilinear in cross section and open ended tubular'end pieces, each, for a portion of its length, conforming in shape to, and telescoping with a corresponding tube, and having an- 126 other portion of its length expanded'and of polygonal cross section and fitting against the corresponding portion of adjacent end pieces, and solder sealing the joints between, and rigidly connecting the expanded 130 portions of adjacent end ieces and the telescoping portions of,the tu s and end pieces.

2. Tubular apparatuscomprising in combination a, group of tubes and open ended tubular end )icces, each, for a portion of its length, con orming in shape to, and telescoping with a corresponding tube,'and having another portion of its length expanded and of polygonal cross section .and fitting against the corresponding portion of adjacent end pieces, and solder sealing the joints between, and rigidly connecting the expanded portions of adjacentend pleces, and the telescoping portions of the tubes;and end pieces. t a

3. Tubular apparatus comprising in combinat'ion a group of tubes and open ended tubular end pieces, each telescoping for a portion of its length with a corresponding tube, and having another'- portion of its .length, expanded. and of polygonal cross section, and fitting against the correspond- 25 V cent end pieces and the telescoping portions ing portion of adjacent end pieces, and solder sealin the joints between and rigidly connecting the expanded portions of adjaof'the tubes and end pieces, said pieces each having an integral portion or portions dis posed to limit the distance which the in serted tube may extend into the end piece.

Tubular apparatus comprising in combination a group of tubes and open ended tubular end pieces,- each, for a portion of its length, conforming in shape to, and tel scoping with a corresponding tube, and he ing another portion of its length expanded and of polygonal cross scction and fitting against the corresponding portion of arlja' cent end pieces, and solder sealing the joii:

between, and rigidly connecting the expanded portions of the tubes'and end pieces.

said end pieces being each outwardly flared along a portion of its edge at the end into which thecorresponding tube is inserted.

Tubular ppparatus comprising in combination a group of tubes and hollow sheet metal end pieces formed with longitudinal surface portions fitting against external s of the tubes and with other longi- HANS ZIMME'RMANN.

Witnesses: D. W. HILDRETH,

SIhIONi W. SNYDER.

onsfitting each against joints and mechanically 

